Traffic sign



May 1, 19.128,.

L. J. BETTs Y' TRAFFIC SIGN Filed April 6, 1925 Patented May 1, 1928.

PATENT OFFICE.

LOUIS J. BETTS, OF WARREN, PENNSYLVANIA.

TRAFFIC SIGN.

Application filed April 6, 1925.` Serial No. 21,195.

This invention relates 'toV trallic signs and particularly to that type oi' sign which is adapted to be semi-permanently located, it

` being one of the objects of the invention to provide a sign so constructed as to be readily attaehable to its anchor' block, and which when in place covers and protects its attaching means so thatthe sign cannot be unauthorizedly removed, while at the same time being readily detachable by one in possession of a special key.

Another object of the invention is to provide a trailic sign, the legend-bearing portion of which can be removed so as to be 1nterch'angeable with other legend-hearing portions having insignia of different purport, said port-ions being characterized by the provision of securing means which can not be detached by one who is not provided with a tool designed especially for that purpose. n y

Other objects of the invention relate to speciiicffeatures thereof, and will appear as the following description of an illustrative embodiment of the invent-ion proceeds.`

In the drawings e Figure l. is a front elevation, partly in section, illustrating my improvedt-railic sign.

Figure 2 is a vertical section of the anchoring block, the base, the spacer and the lower end of the standard at aright angle to Figure l. Y

Figure. 3 is an underneath plan view of the base ci the traffic sign.

Figure 4 is a plan viewv of the anchor block. V s

Figure 5.is a section taken along the line 5 5 of Figure l.

Figure (iis a section through the shield which protects the set-screw shown in Figure 5. y i,

Figure 7 is a side elevation ofthe legendbearing portion of the sign. l

Referring now in detail to the Several Figures, the numeral l represents a base which is preferahlyinadefrom cast iron and provided on its upper side with an annular flange 2 forminga socket. A standard 3 supported in said socket, said standard be'- ing preferably-made from a piece of pipe tubing. and ofsuitablelength to carryv the legend-bearing portion of the sign at an appropriate height.

The base is secured to the ground by the anchoring bolt 4, which extends head downwardly through a hole in said base, and en gages the anchor block 5. Saidanchor block is preferably or' the type described in my Patent #1,469,146 granted September 25,'

1923, and consists of a webbed portion 6 adapted to be embedded in concrete, the uppery face of said block being provided with means interlocking with the head 7 of the bolt 4. i

Said means consists of a key-hole slot 8 opening in the lupper surface of the anchor block, having an enlarged end capable of receiving the head 7 of the bolt 4, and a nar row portion of sufficient Width just to admit said shank of the bolt. The narrow portion is undercutforming a recess into which the head of the holt may slide, and suchundercut portion forms a ilange which overhangs the bolt head and prevents its escape from, the anchor bloc-k by movement in a` direction axially of said bolt.

The upper or free end of the bolt-4 is formed with threads, and preferably passes through a. spacer 9, a retaining nut l0 being screwed upon the threaded end of saidbolt above the spacer. The latter is preferably made at least as tall as the flange 2 which forms the socket., the object of said spacer being to keep the nut above the end ofthe socket so that it may bepconveniently acces sible for the application of a wrench.

Then the base l is in place as shown in Figure 1but before the standardhas been introduced into the socket., 'the nut l0 may be tightened against the upper end of the spacer 9 so as to draw the head 7 of the bolt 4 tightlyagainst the overhangingiiange ll of the anchor block. This secures the base in position. The base is formed on its lower face with a key or plug 12 which fits into the enlarged' part of the key-hole slot 8r when the bolt-head is in the recess beneath the narrow part of said slot. `When the nut l() is screwed on the threaded portion of the bolt 4 against the upper end of the kspacing,` asy described, it draws the key l2 into the'enlarged part of the key-hole slot 8 so that the bolt-head 7 cannot thereafter escape through sidewise shift-ing of the base of the traffic sign. The bolt is made of such length that the nut 10 can be backed off a. considerable distance in order topermit the base to be tilted until the key l2 is out of the enlarged part of the keyholeslot. The base can then be shifted sidewise in a direction which will bring the bolt-head 7 into registry with .the enlarged part of the key-hole slot 8, whereupon the entire base may be lifted `from the anchor block. The upper surface of the anchor block is preferably flush with the surface ot the street, so that said block offers no impediment to traflic after the traflic sign has been removed therefrom.

In erecting the traflic sign, the standard 3 is placed in position after the base has been secured to the anchor block in the manner above described, and telescopes over the nut l() fully covering and protecting the latter. A set screw 15 screws into an aperture in the side of the flange Q and engages the standard 3, locking the latter .in place. lhen said set screw is in place its head preferably .terminates flush with the surface of the flange 2 and is formed withan internal polygonally shaped recess which is fitted only by a special wrench 14, presumed to be carried by an authorized party. By virtue ot the construction just described the standard cannot be removed -from the base by ordinary tools, and, with the standard 3 in place the nut 10 cannot be tampered with. This makes the standard and base secure against unauthorized remo ial.

The spacci' 9 is preferably 'formed with a flange 15 at its lower end upon which the lower end of the standard 3 rests. By loosening the set screw, the standard 3 may beV oriented so as to face the legend-bearing portion of the sign in any desired direction, the flange 15 acting as an end bearing for said standard. Said flange also serves to lift out any accumulation of dirt which may collect in the socket.

The legend-bearing portion of the sign may be of any desired form` it being here shown as a flat circular plate 1G upon which Suitable insignia may be cast integrally therewith, painted thereupon, or applied thereto in any desired manner. The plate 16 is preferably provided with a vshank 17 telescopicallyv fitted within the upper end of the standard 3. Said shank is formed with a passage 18 into which suitable securing means may be introduced. Said securing means in the present instance is shown as consisting of a screw 19 extending through an aligned aperture in the side of the standard and screwing into the passage 18. Said screw preferably has a polygonal recess in its head of the same size and shape as that in the set screw 13, so that the same wrench may be used in manipulating both screws.

The standard being of commercial drawn or welded tubing, there are no projections or lugs on the same in which the head of the screw 19Vmight `be imbedded. Therefore I provide a protector or shield 2O having a recess 21 in which the head of the set screw is housed, and a passage 22 between said recess and the back face of the shield, said back face being convex to match the curvature of the standard. The shield is positioned upon t-he set screw before the latter is put in place and, when the set screw is tightened to final position, the convex tace oit the shield hugs the standard so that the shield cannot be turned even by the application ot' pliers thereto. It therefore becomes impossible to remove the set screw except by use of the special wrench provided for the purpose and the legend-bearing portion of the sign is consequently safeguarded against removal by one without the authority to do so.

lVhile I have described what 1 believe to bea practical and eliicient embodiment of my invention it is to be understood that variousl changes in the structure and disposition ot' the several parts may be made without departing 'from the scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims. y

Having described my invention what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. In a sign support, a base having an annular flange forming a socket, a spacer in said socket extending upward substantially to the level of the top ot said flange, anchoring means passing loosely through said base and spacer having the lower end thereof adapted to engage an anchor block, and having. the upper end thereof projecting through said spacer, securing means carried by said anchoring means and engaging the upper end of said spacer for bringing said base into fixed relation to said anchor block, a standard telescopically arranged with respect to said flange and surrounding said securing means, and means carried by said flange for locking said standard to said base.

2. In a sign support, a base having an annular flange forming a socket, a. spacer within said socket having an 'outwardly extending flange at its lower end. said spacer cX- tending upwardly substantially to the level ot the top ol. said flange, anchoring means passing loosely through said base and spacer having the lower end thereof adapted to engage an anchor block and ha ving the upper end projecting through said spacer, securing means carried by said anchoring means and engageable with the upper end of said spacer for bringing said base into lixed relation with said anchor block, a standard telescopically arranged with respect to said socket and seated upon the flange of said spacer, said I standard surrounding said securing means, and means carried by said flange for locking said standard to said base.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto rset my hand.

Louis J. Berre. 

